The Coast Guard this morning rescued two waterman clinging to debris near Hog Island in Hyde County after their shrimp boat capsized in a storm.

The two men were taken to the hospital, but suffered no serious injuries, said Coast Guard Petty Officer 1^st Class Andy Kendrick.

The 35-foot shrimp boat, Mad Lady II, was reported missing between 8 and 9 p.m. Tuesday night after the vessel failed to return to Engelhard from a trip to Pamlico Sound. The men on board had communicated to shore that they were experiencing generator trouble, Kendrick said.

The Coast Guard and NC Wildlife Commission launched a search around midnight when someone saw a flare go up near Hog Island.

At 6:20 a.m., authorities located their capsized boat in Wysocking Bay, but there was no sign of the crew members.

A good Samaritan then reported seeing debris a few miles away. The men were found clinging to debris about seven miles away from the boat, Kendrick said. The two were hoisted to safety by a Coast Guard helicopter and taken to a nearby hospital. Neither had serious injuries.

The two had no lifejackets and “their chances of survival at that point were low, so this is really good news for everyone,” Kendrick said.